Google Fiber is lining up an arrival into the Omaha market.City council approved a right-of-way agreement with Google Fiber on Tuesday, which permits Google to install, maintain, operate and control a fiber optic infrastructure for broadband internet.”We would get to work on our design plans and, in 2023, start construction in the community of Omaha,” said Rachel Merlo, head of government and community affairs for Google Fiber.Representatives say it plans to start laying fiber underground in the central Omaha geographic region, but couldn’t provide an exact address.”And that will be the base in which we can build out from, like a spider web,” Google Fiber’s Andy Simpson said.Google says it could take four to five years to build its network across the city.”The communities would see their service available as construction is done,” Merlo said. “So one part will go first, second, then third, and over time eventually we’ll be available across the city.” If crews dig at your home in the next four to five years, Google Fiber’s agreement with the city of Omaha says they’re supposed to give you five days’ notice before digging.Google Fiber says crews will dig into the green space behind street curbs. “Knowing that’s going to happen in construction is challenging, we do our best to avoid it, and we want to remedy it as soon as possible,” Simpson said.The agreement means competition for Cox Communications.Cox pays the city a five percent fee for right-of-way lines. Google Fiber doesn’t have to pay anything under current state law since it’s not a TV provider, but an internet provider. The city requested its lawyers to draft language for the next Legislative session because the city wants a two percent cut of Google Fiber’s profits here.A Cox Communication spokesperson said in a written statement Tuesday: “At Cox, we embrace competition. It’s good for consumers and good for the city. However, we believe true competition is only possible if all competitors are playing by a similar set of rules. We’ve been engaged in conversations with the city over the last several weeks because the agreement approved today provides a different set of rules for this new entrant into the market. We are encouraged to see the city is seeking a legislative solution.”An economist says the 10-year deal creates competition, likely lowering internet prices for small businesses and homeowners.
Google Fiber is lining up an arrival into the Omaha market.
City council approved a right-of-way agreement with Google Fiber on Tuesday, which permits Google to install, maintain, operate and control a fiber optic infrastructure for broadband internet.
“We would get to work on our design plans and, in 2023, start construction in the community of Omaha,” said Rachel Merlo, head of government and community affairs for Google Fiber.
Representatives say it plans to start laying fiber underground in the central Omaha geographic region, but couldn’t provide an exact address.
“And that will be the base in which we can build out from, like a spider web,” Google Fiber’s Andy Simpson said.
Google says it could take four to five years to build its network across the city.
“The communities would see their service available as construction is done,” Merlo said. “So one part will go first, second, then third, and over time eventually we’ll be available across the city.”
If crews dig at your home in the next four to five years, Google Fiber’s agreement with the city of Omaha says they’re supposed to give you five days’ notice before digging.
Google Fiber says crews will dig into the green space behind street curbs.
“Knowing that’s going to happen in construction is challenging, we do our best to avoid it, and we want to remedy it as soon as possible,” Simpson said.
The agreement means competition for Cox Communications.
Cox pays the city a five percent fee for right-of-way lines. Google Fiber doesn’t have to pay anything under current state law since it’s not a TV provider, but an internet provider. The city requested its lawyers to draft language for the next Legislative session because the city wants a two percent cut of Google Fiber’s profits here.
A Cox Communication spokesperson said in a written statement Tuesday: “At Cox, we embrace competition. It’s good for consumers and good for the city. However, we believe true competition is only possible if all competitors are playing by a similar set of rules. We’ve been engaged in conversations with the city over the last several weeks because the agreement approved today provides a different set of rules for this new entrant into the market. We are encouraged to see the city is seeking a legislative solution.”
An economist says the 10-year deal creates competition, likely lowering internet prices for small businesses and homeowners.
